Shut UP!!!

Are you SERIOUS???? Hoooooolllyyy sa-MOKES!!! I am so over-the-top-beyond-compare EXCITED at the moment!! I entered Stampin' Up's Artisan Award Contest this year ... again ... which is the THIRD time I have actually done so. This year it is a bit different than past years as well. In the past, they have announced the 10 Artisan winners before Convention. Then, while at Convention, the "honorable mention" people are announced. Kinda lackluster, actually, as the names are flashed across the big screen during a general session. It's very exciting, but it seems kind of anti-climactic.

This year, however, they decided to pick 20 finalists before Convention. Each finalist will be given a $250 shopping spree with Stampin' Up (COOLCOOLCOOL!). At Convention, the 10 winners will be announced. Each of the winners will receive a $500 SU shopping spree AND $500 cash AND they will be on Stampin' Up's Design Team for the next year, receiving new product each month with which to create lovely goodness and post it on their blogs or DBWS's (Demonstrator Business Websites). GUESSWHATGUESSWHAT??? I was PICKED!!! HUZZAH-HOORAH-HOORAY!!

This is kinda how it went down ... (names have been omitted to protect the innocent) was Skyping and pretending to clean my craft room last Thursday evening with friend #1 ... friend #2 (who also entered the contest) texted me and asked me if I had heard anything yet, to which I replied, "Nope. You?" To which SHE replied, "YES!! They called me about 10 minutes ago!!" OHMYGOSHFREAKINGOUTTHEDOOR!! I immediately called friend #3 on the phone (who had ALSO entered the contest). We were both having a spazzing-out type of conversation, "She got called??? Oh how cool!! Why haven't they called US??" In the middle of the conversation my OTHER line starting ringing. I said, "MYOTHERLINEISRINGING...ANDIDON'TRECOGNIZETHENUMBER!! Gotta go ... call ya right back!" Friend #1, still hanging on via Skype, is laughing by this time ... Caller on the phone says, "Hi, is this Wendy?" "Yes, this is she." "Is this the SAME Wendy Weixler who created -------- (omitting until the BIG REVEAL at Convention)?" To which I replied the first two intelligent words that popped into my head ... "Shut UP!!" Seriously ... that is EXACTLY what I said. I jumped out of my chair (in my basement craft studio) and flew up the stairs ... the whole time saying something intelligent like, "This is making me CRY!" (which it was!) Cute gal from Stampin' Up says, "Don't CRY! You're making ME cry!!" I honestly don't remember pretty much ANYthing she said after that ... honestly and truly ... my brain turned to oatmeal. As soon as I hung up, I ... with all the maturity and composure someone of my age SHOULD have ... started JUMPING UP AND DOWN and SCREAMING!!! My daughter and her friend, sitting downstairs playing video games, looked at me as if I had totally LOST my marbles (which I had!!)! Friend #1 is now CRACKING UP via Skype .... take a deep breath ...

I am going to admit that friend #3 is my deardeardear BFF, JanTink!! She is sooo amazingly awesome. The only thing that takes the shine out of this INCREDIBLE experience is that she didn't get a call ... a fact that I am STILL befuddled about, as she has been an "honorable mention" both of the other times she has entered. She is sooo gifted and talented ... and wonderful and smart ... she inspires me and helps me when my brain cramps up (which is way more often than I care to admit)!! In all the scenarios I imagined for the outcomes for this contest (BOTH of us winning/being finalists, HER winning/being a finalist), I NEVER thought she wouldn't be here on the list. SOOO happy she is gonna be staying with me during Convention, as I know she is going to be the most gracious and enthusiastic of supporters for me ... which is why she is my BFF. (Just know that I will have LOTS of chocolate waiting for you when you arrive, my dear friend!!)

On to the cards posted for today ... had my Stamp Club this morning. Always love having stamp-y friends over. We made the first card with, what else??? More butterflies!!! The little butterfly in the card posted waaayyyy back at the top of this post at the beginning of my loooonnnggg saga is heat embossed in Melon Mambo (both layers), as is the lattice-y looking image in the strip behind the hole.

Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, Summer Silhouettes, Fabulous Phrases
Paper: Whisper White, Gumball Green, Melon Mambo
Ink: Gumball Green, Basic Black
Accessories: Elegant Butterfly Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Fancy Fan Textured Impression Folder, Perfect Pennant Bigz Die, Rhinestone Basics, Melon Mambo Embossing Powder




My girls have been wanting to make this Origami Diamond Fold card for a while ... they had seen the one I had out from when I did the tutorial here on my blog (click HERE to see it). So, this is what I did. They wanted to use some Crystal Effects, which is on the little eggies in the nest.













Here is a peek under the first flap ...











And inside ... cute, eh?

Stamps: Take Care
Paper: Midnight Muse, Raspeberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit, Whisper White, Patio Party DSP
Ink: Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit, Midnight Muse, Early Espresso
Accessories: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Crystal Effects, Whisper White Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

It's gonna take me a while to come down off the ceiling (just ask my family ... they will tell ya it's TRUE!). I look at the list of finalists and am astounded to be among them. Many of these talented women have been idols of mine forEVER! Such an honor ... now I hafta wait about 3 1/2 weeks to see how this all plays out. Not gonna lie and say I don't WANNA win, but I consider having made it THIS far a HUGE thing. Sooo thrilled!!